Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece.
Takes place shortly after Nico Robin joins the crew, before Skypeia.
It's been a few days since Robin decided to join this rambunctious crew. It was fairly easy to get on everyone's good side, all of them were befriended on the first day.
Nearly, all of them. One such specimen was the resident swordsman, who was proving to be 'tough' to crack like he was on the outside. And that didn't bother her one bit, it was good to be wary of someone, especially of a criminal with a background as adumbral as hers.
...That won't stop her from attempting to try and befriend him of course. She began observing closely, not on him but his fellow crewmates. Watched how they approached him, how they talked to him, how they treated him. They were all kind people who have undergone many hardships with each other. Never before had Robin seen such a small close-knit group. One such interaction had gotten her curious however,
The Charming Navigator.
On the outside, these two appeared to mix as well as water and oil. Got along as well as cats and dogs. How they constantly pressed each others' buttons in attempts to get under the other's skin. In retrospect, these two would appear to have a very rocky relationship.
But there seemed to be something more going on than what met Nico's keen eye.
Robin closely examined their faces when they were in the heat of an argument, how the edges of the Cat Burglar's mouth seemed to quiver into an almost-smile in short fleeting moments from the way the burly tiger grinned. How the Pirate Hunter's eyes glinted in amusing hunger, immensely enjoying the verbal arsenal the feisty cat spat at him. It made her begin to wonder if there lay some some secret underlying feelings for the other.
So she decided to delve deeper into this, she had a useful ability for gathering information after all.
There would be times where Nico would feign sleep, a habit she picked up from being on the run for so long. She did this during nights when either the navigator or the swordsman were selected for watch duty. Each and every time, there was not a single moment where the two did not meet up during those points.
Tonight was another of those instances. Even with Robin's advanced senses, the only sound she was able to pick up was the sound of the door shutting. The Cat Burglar is an experienced thief after all.
Robin took her cue and sat up, crossing her arms underneath her chest and summoning forth an ear and eye that was within ear and view shot of whatever the two would conspire to each other during these small periods. She watched the navigator finish her climb up the mast to be met with the swordsman's back turned to her.
"You're late, I only have an hour left before I switch with Usopp," The swordsman grumbled out half-heartedly.
"I know I know, but I can't help it when Robin sleeps once every blue moon! Still, an hour is enough, don't you think?" The navigator playfully replied.
"Hrrrngh."
"Aww c'mon, I thought you hated my existence~" she teased. The Navigator stepped up and coiled herself around the swordsman, one arm draped over his shoulder and the other wrapped around his neck.
"It's not that, it's that woman. I still don't trust her," the swordsman complained as he brought a hand up to rub the navigator's arm.
"Really? After all this time? I think you should, she's been a great asset for the crew." He grumbles.
"I won't deny that, but she's crafty, like you. I just feel like she's always watching, listening. Not to mention we don't know anything about her history..." Robin giggled in amusement, the swordsman's words could not have been more truer at the moment.
"My history was bad, but you accepted me didn't you~?" She plants a kiss on his temple. He closes his eyes.
"Yeah, after you betrayed us and beat Arlong for you. You'd better had a change of heart after that," Nami giggles lightly.
"So who's to say she won't change after something like that?" Zoro doesn't say anything after that, and it warms Nico's heart that Nami wants to help her.
Robin stops using her powers now, whatever ensued after was to be shared only between them. She got her answers now, and since it seemed like they were keeping it secret from the crew, Nico will hold their little secret as well. She had many of her own already, one more wouldn't hurt.
"So the Cat Burglar and the Pirate Hunter, that's quite the dangerous power couple right there," Nico mumbles to herself amusingly before nestling herself back into bed. She should fall asleep before Nami returned.
--
The next morning, Robin watches a familiar scenario playing out in front of her. Except, she has newfangled information now, there's new things Robin notices that she hadn't before.
When the swordsman would retreat, the navigator would vigorously follow, continuously reprimanding the swordsman for whatever fault he caused, properly making sure he got it through his 'dense' skull. How their voices would simmer down when they ceased to be visible from the crew. Robin can only imagine what would occur then.
How he would purposely lean his face in closer, to almost brush her nose with his. The swordsman was fond of her personal space it seemed.
And how the navigator would seem unphased at his sudden closeness, but meeting his glares head on in a challenging manner. Almost challenging him to come closer, daring him to cross the boundaries of their acrimonious disputes. Robin felt the sudden urge to materialize a hand and tap the swordsman's head just a tad bit closer.
She giggled in amusement, she had joined a very interesting crew it seemed!
Notes: I updated this sooner than I would have, I should really hurry on my other series. I can't help it though, these two are fun to write about. I might do a pov of everyone else's in the crew. (even poor Sanji) Anyways, see you guys in the next chapter.
